The Irish standard., 1887-02-12
IRISH-A AMERICAN SOCIETIES,
The Organization Of the Historic Philadel
phiA Society Of Friendly Sons Of
St. Patrick in It'll.
WASHINGTON WAS A MEMBER,
The Assistance Rendered by Irishmen il
the Great and Glorious Fight
For American Independence.

ton will celebrate its l5Oth anniversary
ON next St. Patrick Day. This is one
of the Oldest, if not the Oldest, Irish So
ciety in America. The historic Phila-
adeiphia Society Of Friendly Sons Of
st. Patrick was organized in l771. OF
this society Gen. Washington was a
member. The Boston cele bristion in
March will be one of several days. exer-
cises, including an ovation, q poem,
m asical entertainments, and a ban
quet
IL is worth recalling here the inti-
mate relations of lrishmen with the
birth and growth of American Indepen-
dence. John Dunlap, born in Strahane
Tyrone, was the Philadelphia printer
who published the Pennsylvania
Packet, the first American daily. He
was printer to the National Conven~
tion in Philadelphia, and was the first
person who printed and published the
s'Declaration Of Independence. Au-
other Erishman, Charles Thompson,
Secretary of Congress, first prepared
this immortal document from Je1fer-
sons rough draft, for publication; and
it was first read aloud (from the State
House in Phiiadelphia) by Colonel
Nixon, the son of an lrishman.
We take the following account OF the
Philadelphia Friendly Sons of st, Pat
rick from an interesting Gaelic paper,
The Gael, published in Brocklyu:-
Intimately connected with the glory
Of ;he Society of ST. Patrick, is Il mat
ter which must be referred to in some
detail.
In the year 1850 transaction took
place in Philadelphia almost unparal~
leled in the history of nations and pat
riotism, which casts lustre not Only
Oh the individuals who were the an
thors Of it, but Oh the Whole commun-
ity to which they belonged.
at the time alluded to, when every
thing depended OIL the vigorous prose-
cution of the War; when the American
army WAS in imminent danger OF being
compelled to yield to famine--ss Gar
more dangerous enemy than the Brit
ish: when the urgent expostulations OF
the commander in chief and the
strenuous recommendations Of Con-
gress had utterly failed to arouse a just
sense OF the danger of the crisis, the
genuine love of country, and most noble
self-sacrifices of some individuals in
Philadelphia, supplied the place Of the
slumbering patriotism OF the country
and saved her cause from most disgrace
ful ruin. In this great emergency was
conceived and promptly carried into
operation. 1.-THE plan OF the Bank Of
Pennsylvania, established for supply
ing the army Of the United States with
provisions for two months
On the l71h Of June, 1880, the follow
ing paper, which deserves TO rank as
supplement to the Declaration OF INDIE
pendence, was signed by 50 individuals
and firms
"WHEREAs, In the present situation
of public affairs in the United States,
the greatest and most vigorous exer-
tions are required for the successful
management Of the just and necessary
war in which they were engaged with
Great Britain; we, the subscribers,
deeply impressed with the sentiments
that On such an occasion should govern
us in the prosecution Of a war, On the
event of which our own freedom and
that of our posterity, and the freedom
end independence of the United States
are all involved, hereby severally pledge
our property and credit for the several
sums specified and mentioned after our
names, to support the credit of bank
to be established for furnishing a sup
ply of provisions for the armies of the
United States; and do hereby severally
promise and engage to execute to the
directors of the said bank bonds of the
form hereuato annexed.
s'WiCness our hands, this 18th day of
June, in the year of our Lord, 1882
Then follow the names of subscrib-
ers, with the sums respectively sub
scribed, amounting to 100000 Penn.
sylvania currency payable in gold OF
silver.
Of this amount, twenty-seven mem
bers of the Friendly Sons Of ST. Patrick
subscribed e1OS,G GOO. The names OF
these, with the amounts Of their sub.
scriptions are as follows, namely
Robert Morris. SIC, ,00C
Blsir McClenachan.... NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. o,00f
William 5,ool
j. Nj. Nesbitt & &Co................... 5,0ot
Richard Peters. Observation-Disclosures. ,.... 5,oot
Samuel Meredith Observation-Disclosures. 5,O0(
James Messe.. ......... ............... 500
Thomas Barclay ................ 500